Faa Plan Aims At Air Slots

December 20, 1988|By Carol Jouzaitis.

The Federal Aviation Administration Monday proposed rules aimed at increasing opportunities for smaller or new carriers to compete at the nation`s busiest airports, including Chicago`s O`Hare International.

The proposed rules also would affect LaGuardia and Kennedy International Airports in New York and Washington National Airport. Operations at all four airports are bound by the FAA`s so-called high-density rule limiting the number of landing and takeoff slots.

The FAA`s proposal would make it harder for airlines at those crowded airports to hoard valuable slots in order to keep them out of the hands of potential competitors. It resulted from a congressional mandate to restudy rules on slot transfers.

Airlines that want to gain access to slot-controlled airports, or increase flights, can do so only if they find a carrier willing to sell some of its slots. The process is often difficult and sometimes impossible.

Phoenix-based America West Airlines, for example, is trying to obtain slots for expanding its schedule at O`Hare and Kennedy and for launching service into LaGuardia and Washington National.

``Slots are simply not available to us,`` said America West spokesman Daphne Dacino. ``The airlines that have them keep them for their advantage. Often they`ll only sell slots to airlines that don`t compete with them.

``If you can`t serve an airport because you can`t get slots, the spirit of competition is seriously affected. We`re not the only airline having the problem.``

America West`s request that slots be redivided among carriers was rejected by the FAA because ``it would be unnecessarily disruptive to existing service,`` said FAA spokesman Dick Stafford.

However, the FAA`s proposal would force carriers to give up slots that aren`t used to the fullest capacity.

Specifically, the FAA would require carriers to give up any slot used less than 90 percent of the time during any two-month period, Stafford said. That would apply to carriers holding 10 or more slots during a particular time period.

Under current rules, a carrier must sell a slot or return it to the FAA if it`s used less than 65 percent of the time during a two-month period.

The FAA also is considering prohibiting commuter airlines from using slots intended for major airlines.

An attorney for America West, John Gillick, said he believed the rule change, if adopted, would free only a limited number of slots for small or fledgling carriers.

``Ultimately, some sort of lottery and realloacation will be needed,`` he said.

Interested parties have 45 days to file comments with the FAA on the proposed rule change.

A spokesman for American Airlines said the airline was ``encouraged that the FAA is taking steps to make sure carriers use slots to their fullest ability.